Pitless well system



7, 1970 E. a. SHETLER 3,519,073

' PITLESSS WELL SYSTEM Filed March 22, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 154/?! A9. JA/ffzf/e ATTORNEYS July 7, 1970 E. B. SHETLER PITLESSS WELL SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1968 v INVENTOR. A i/Pd A5. Gi /72458 ATTORNEYS July 7, 1970 E. B. SHETLER PITLESSS WELL SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Shea 3 Filed March 22, 1968 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,519,073 PITLESS WELL SYSTEM Earl B. Shetler, Clio, Mich., assignor to Shetler Pump Company, Inc., Clio, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Mar. 22, 1968, Ser. No. 715,307 Int. Cl. E21b 33/03 U.S. Cl. 166-89 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pitless well system comprising concentric vertical pipes and concentric horizontal pipes connected by a distributor, the internal pipes comprising discharge pipes and the external pipes comprising pressure return pipes. A jet is associated with the discharge pipes. A pump has an impeller with an axial inlet communicating with the discharge pipe and a chamber under pressure that communicates with the external pipes.

This invention relates to pitless well systems.

In well systems, it is common for governmental laws and ordinances to require that any water suction line extending outside the well casing shall be protected by an annular space filled with water from the system and maintained under system pressure. Accordingly systems have been developed which are commonly known as pitless well systems wherein the suction or discharge line is enclosed by a concentric pipe or line to which water under pressure is supplied from the system. In such a system it is necessary that in the area of the pump the pipes be separated so that they can be individually connected to the suction and pressure lines of the pump.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a pitless well system incorporating a novel pump wherein the concentric pipes are connected directly to the pump without the need for complex piping and connections; which system is relatively simple, easy to connect and requires a minimum of maintenance.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a system embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a part sectional view of a portion of the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a part sectional view of another portion of the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of a portion of the system.

FIG. 5 is a part sectional fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of the system.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the system shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 1, the pitless well system shown comprises a first pair of concentric pipes 10, 11 which extend generally vertically, the inner pipe 11 defining a discharge or suction pipe and the outer pipe defining a pressure pipe as presently described. A jet and one way valve 12 of conventional construction is connected to the lower end of the pipe 11. The upper end of the pipes 10, 11 are connected to a distributor 13 to which a second pair of concentric pipes 14, 15 extending horizontally are connected. The distributor 13 functions to connect the interiors of the pipes 11, 15 and 10, 14. The distributor is shown as comprising a housing 16 whichincludes a chamber 17 providing communication between pipes 10 and 14 and a block 18 positioned in the housing and having seals 19 thereon sealing with the housing. The pipes 11, 15 are threaded into the block 18 so that their interiors communicate through a chamber 19 in the block 18.

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The other ends of the pipes 14, 15 are connected with the interior of a pump 20. Referring to FIG. 3 the pump 20 comprises a motor 21 which rotates an impeller 22 within a housing 23. A casing 24 is associated with the impeller and has an axial inlet 25 and outlet 26 to a discharge pipe 27 of the pump. The impeller casing 24 further includes one or more openings 28 providing communication to a pressure chamber 29 within the housing 23.

A generally bell-shaped wall 30 is provided within the housing and includes a tubular portion 31 that communicates With the inlet 25 of the impeller. The bellshaped housing 30 includes circumferentially spaced openings 31 that communicate with the chamber 29. The discharge pipe 15 herein shown as being made of plastic has a fitment 32 on the end thereof provided with longitudinally spaced grooves 33 in which O-rings 34 are positioned for sealing engagement with the inner surface of the tubular portion 31 of wall 30.

Bell-shaped wall 30 includes a peripheral flange 35 that overlies a gasket 36 which is interposed between the flange 35 and the housing 23.

As shown in FIG. 3, outer pipe 14 is also made of plastic and engages a shoulder 37 in the flange 35. A sealing member 38 of rubber or the like engages another shoulder 39 in the flange 35 and the shoulder 40 in a pressure member 41. Circumferentially spaced bolts 42 extend through flange pressure member 41 and are threaded into the housing to provide an axial force on member 38 causing it to compress against the sides of pipe 14 and provide a seal. The pressure of the bolts also produces a seal between flange 35 and housing 23.

In use as the impeller rotates and the system functions, water passes through the discharge pipe 15, enters the impeller and is forced out under pressure. Some of the water enters the chamber 29 through opening 28. This water passes back through pipes 14 and 10 and is aspirated through the injector 12 to return back through the pipes 11 and 15.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 4, the inner pipe 15' is made of metal and is threaded into the fitment 32 which has the grooves 33' and O-rings 34' therein for sealing engagement with the tubular portion 31 of the wall 30.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the jet means 50 has been incorporated into the end of the pipe 15a and has the grooves 51 and O-rings 52 therein for sealing engagement with the tubular portion 31 of the wall 30. This type of system is adaptable for shallow wells. A one way valve 53 is at the lower end of the vertical pipe 11.

The pipe 15 may also be threaded into a fitment 32 which is threaded into wall 30. When so constructed the pump may be used vertically and pipe 11 may be threaded directly into wall 30 and pipe 10 clamped to housing 23.

I claim:

1. In a pitless well system, the combination comprising a first pair of concentric pipes extending vertically and including an internal discharge pipe and an external pressure pipe,

a second pair of concentric pipes extending laterally from said first pair of pipes and including an internal discharge pipe and a surrounding pressure pipe,

distributor means interconnecting the inner pipes and outer pipes respectively of said pairs of pipes,

jet means associated with one of said discharge pipes,

a pump including a pump housing and an impeller within said housing,

means associated with said impeller to define an inlet to the impeller,

means associated with said impeller to provide a pressure chamber within said pump housing,

said second pair of concentric pipes extending to said pump housing,

means for connecting said second pair of concentric pipes to said pump housing so that said inner dis charge pipe is connected directly to the inlet to said impeller and said outer pressure pipe is connected directly and communicates with said chamber.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means forming said pressure chamber comprises a wall within said chamber having an opening therein communicating with the inlet of said impeller,

said discharge pipe extending into said inlet,

said wall having at least one opening in the wall thereof communicating with the pressure chamber surrounding said discharge pipe.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 including longitudinally spaced annular sealing members on said discharge pipe providing a sealing engagement with said opening in said wall.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said sealing members comprise O-rings set in grooves in the end of said pipe.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said last-mentioned discharge pipe is made of plastic.

6. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said last-mentioned discharge pipe is made of metal.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for connecting said pipes directly to said housing comprise an annular flange on said wall,

gasket means interposed between said flange and said housing of said pump,

an annular flange member,

a sealing member interposed between said flange and said annular flange member,

and means for applying an axial pressure to said lastmentioned sealing member and said gasket.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 including a second sealing member of resilient material interposed between said means for applying axial pressure and said annular flange member,

said second sealing member engaging said outer pipe which extends to said pump housing.

9. In a pitless well system, the combination comprising a first pair of concentric pipes extending vertically and including an internal discharge pipe and an external return p p a second pair of concentric pipes extending laterally from said first pair of pipes and including an internal discharge pipe and a surrounding return pipe,

distributor means interconnecting the inner pipes and outer pipes respectively of said pairs of pipes,

jet means associated with one of said discharge pipes,

a pump including a pump housing and an impeller within said housing,

said housing having an opening therein,

a wall in said opening in said housing,

said wall having a tubular portion defining an axial inlet to the impeller,

said wall cooperating with said housing to provide a pressure chamber within said pump housing,

said wall having at least one opening therein,

said second pair of concentric pipes extending to said pump housing,

and means for connecting said second pair of concentric pipes directly to said opening in said pump housing so that said inner discharge pipe is connected to the tubular portion of said wall and said outer pressure pipe is connected directly and communicates with said chamber.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 including 4 longitudinally spaced annular sealing members on said discharge pipe providing a sealing engagement with said tubular portion of said wall.

11. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said wall is generally bell-shaped including an axially extending tubular extension forming said tubular portion in communication with said inlet of said impeller.

12. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said means for connecting said pipes to said housing comprise an annular flange on said wall,

gasket means interposed between said flange and said housing of said pump,

a sealing member interposed between said flange and an annular flange member,

and means for applying an axial pressure to said lastmentioned sealing member and said gasket.

13. For use in a pitless well system comprising a pair of concentric pipes comprising an internal discharge pipe and an external pressure pipe,

a pump including a pump housing and an impeller within said housing,

means associated with said impeller to define an inlet to the impeller,

means associated with said impeller to provide a pressure chamber within said pump housing,

and means for connecting said pair of concentric pipes directly to said pump housing so that said inner discharge pipe is connected to the inlet to said impeller and said outer pressure pipe is connected directly and communicates with said chamber.

14. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said means forming said pressure chamber comprises a wall within said chamber having an opening therein communicating with the inlet of said impeller,

said discharge pipe extending into said axial inlet,

said wall having at least one opening in the wall thereof adapted to communicate with the interior of said pressure pipe surrounding said discharge pipe.

15. The combination set forth in claim 14 wherein said wall is generally bell-shaped including an axially extending tubular extension forming said opening in communication with said inlet of said impeller.

16. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said means for connecting said pipes to the housing comprise an annular flange on said wall,

gasket means interposed between said flange and said housing of said pump,

a sealing member interposed between said flange and an annular flange member,

and means for applying an axial pressure to said lastmentioned sealing member and said gasket.

17. The combination set forth in claim 16 including a second sealing member of resilient material interposed between said means for applying axial pressure and said annular flange member,

said second sealing member adapted to engage the outer pipe which extends to said pump housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,615,397 10/1952 Conery 103-260 2,623,467 12/1952 Andrew 16668 2,657,641 11/1953 Lung 103-26O 2,859,823 11/1958 Bauer 16688 3,208,399 9/1965 Keller 103260 JAMES A. LEPPINK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

